Hat-supporter.



R. W. HALL.

HAT SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910 Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH $0.. WASHINGTON, D, c,

R. W. HALL.

HAT SUPPORTEB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

2 SEBETSSHEET 2.

ROBERT w. HALL, OF JAMES, ALABAMA.

HAT-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 1, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911. Serial No. 574,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at James, county of Bullock, and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hat supporters.

The present invention has for its objects the provision of a hat supporter of simple, strong, light, inexpensive and durable construction which can be quickly and easily connected to the user at the shoulders and under the arms, and will be comfortable to wear, provided with novel means permitting adjustment of the hat to any desired position forwardly, rearwardly or laterally while in use and will, while shading the head permit the hat to be supported so that a free circulation of air above the head will be had, will permit flexing of the shoulders of the wearer or the assumption of a sitting position without the slightest discomfort.

The present invention is designed for use anywhere and on any occasion when it is desired to protect the head from the sun without the discomfort of wearing a hat.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a frame adapted to rest on the shoulders of the user which may be provided with novel means for relieving the slight weight of the device, if desired, and which, while susceptible of modification, is provided with fastenings or straps to pass under the arms of the user for the convenient securement, without discomfort, of the device. This frame is provided with a head-rest, by preference, so that the user may, by tilting the head slightly backward, support the head without fatigue. The frame, preferably, adjustably carries the hat supporting devices which embody a staff by which the hat is supported, the stafi having releasable means for engaging a frame or guide of novel form by which the staff may be shifted forward, rearward or laterally and the hat thus positioned to best suit the convenience of the user.

The foregoing construction is more fully set forth hereinafter and the novel features of the invention are recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is. a perspective View, the hat being in dotted lines, showing the complete device; Fig. 2, a detail view, partly in section, of the means which support and provide for the adjustmentof the hat; Fig. 3, a sectional detail showing the means for operating the locking pawls; Fig. 4, a detail of one of said pawls; Fig. 5, a rear elevation of the frame which is supported by the shoulders; Fig. 6, a similar view of a modified frame construction; Fig. 7, a detail view of a modification adapted for use on the shoulders; Fig. 8, a detail cross section showing the notches in the staff guiding and locking frame; Fig. 9, a view like Fig. 1, the hat being removed, illustrating a modified form of locking pawl; Fig. 10, a detail view of the pawl arrangement of Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a perspective detail of a modified form of pawl-operating device; Fig. 12, a partial sec tional view thereof; Fig. 13, a detail illustrating the manner of engagement of the pawls of Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 with the pawl engaging frame; and Fig. 1 1, a detail section ofthe lower part of Fig. 11.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the main frame consists of shoulder-engaging arched frames 1 which may be of different formations, as illustrated in Fig. 9, for instance, having loops 2 at their lower parts. Connecting the loops 2, in each instance, are suitable adjustable fastenings, such as straps 3, preferably provided with buckles or with snap hooks 1 for the rapid and easy adjustment of the device. Preferably, though not necessarily, there are provided elastic bands or members 5 designed to rest upon the shoulders of the wearer to cushion the weight of the device and render its use more comfortable. As shown in Fig. 9, these elastic straps are not essential. The rear loops 2 are preferably connected by an adjustable band or strap 6, but this may be dispensed with. This band, when used, passes across the shoulder-blades of the wearer and assists in supporting the device. Rising from the arched frames 1 is a stem 7 preferably provided with a head-rest 8, which may be constructed by spreading the wires or rods of the stem 7 to such extent and degree as to form a convenient rest for the head of the user. The stem continues upwardly and forwardly as the extensions 7 a which are secured in a block 9.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modified form of frame having the rear vertically arranged arch 7 with lower lateral extensions 7. In this form, straps corresponding to the straps 3 pass over the front of the shoulders of the user from the extensions 7 downwardly and connect to the eX- tensions 7 very much in the manner shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated how the arched frames 1 may be formed in two parts 1.0 and 11, the former having teeth 12 on its points 13, which latter are adapted to slide into eyes 14 on the part 11 and to be adjustably engaged by a spring-actuated pawl 15 carried by said part 11, whereby a comfortable adjustment to the shoulders of the wearer is possible for accommodation to different thicknesses of clothing. Straps like straps 3 will be used to connect the loops 2 Preferably the pawl 15 has a handle or button 16 which may be readily grasped by the user and lifted out of engagement with the teeth 12.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the block 9 is provided with grooves or slots which receive the more or less horizontal connecting member 17 of the pawl-engaging frame, said horizontal member 17 being adjustably secured to the block 9 for forward and rearward positioning, by a screw 18. The pawl-engaging frame is provided with a rearwardly inclined upright and double stem 19 and with a more or less horizontally disposed guide frame consisting of four loops 20 arranged in the form of a cross and communicating at the center. The inner edges of the parallel members of these loops are provided with notches 21 of the form shown in Fig. 8. The base part 17 is provided with a ring or eye 22. The hat which is shown by dotted lines 23 and may be of any preferred shape, size and form or, indeed, an umbrella or canopy may be substituted therefor, is suitably connected to a staff 2 1 whose lower end is made conical at 25 and is seated in the loop or eye 22, thus permitting movement in any direction. A retaining screwhead 26 prevents the staff 24; from accidentally becoming detached from the eye 22, but on loosening this screw, the stafi may be readily removed. The upper end of the staff passes through the frame composed of the loops 20 and is of such size that it may easily, yet snugly, pass into any of said loops and thus permit of any desired forward or rearward or lateral adjustment of the hat 23. Passing through apertures 27 (Fig. 3) in the staff 2 1, which may be made hollow for this purpose, are the pawls 28, preferably possessing some resiliency, which are cross-engaged in pairs by coil springs 29 which tend to spread the pawls apart in the position shown so that they will be engaged with the notches 21 in the various loops. The pawls hold the hat secure where it is adjusted, but to enable the hat to be shifted at will, the pawls may be simultaneously withdrawn or sprung out of engagement with the notches 21 by awedge 30 supported by a coil spring 31 adapted to be pressed downwardly by a fingerhold 32. hen the wedge is pulled downwardly, the lower ends of the pawls 28 are spread apart and their upper ends contracted, withdrawing them from the notches 21. The finger-hold 32 is conveniently positioned so that the user may reach up and readily disengage the pawls.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10 and 13, the supporting frame is substantially the same as in Fig. 1, except that the arched frames 1 are shorter at their upper parts and the straps 3 are longer and the rear loops of the frame 1 are preferably provided with lateral elongations or extensions 2 The other parts are of the same construction as hitherto set forth except that the pawls are provided on their free ends with teeth or fingers 33 and are arranged and adapted to operate in such manner that opposite pawls will engage opposite notches in any given loop 20, as shown in Fig. 10. One pair of pawls engages the notches 21 in a given loop and the other pair of pawls is adapted to e11- gage the notches in either of the loops at right angles to the loop aforesaid. The pawls are retracted by mechanism such as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, the pawls are constructed and adapted to operate in the same manner as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, but I have here shown a different arrangement for releasing the pawls, such arrangement being in substitution for the pawl releasing arrangement of Fig. 3. Secured to the staff 24L by a set screw 34: is a twoarmed rest 35, against which pawl-actuators 36 are adapted to rest, the lower ends of said actuators being seated loosely in grooves or slots 37 in the rest. There are but two pawl actuators which are connected by links 38 to two of the pawls, as more clearly shown in Fig. 12. These links are pivoted to the actuators at 39 and have a loose connection at 4:0 with the said pawls. Lugs or pins 11 on the actuators are adapted to strike the remaining pawls at a predetermined time. The actuators 36 may be grasped by the hand to compress the pawls and release them from the notches 21 or there may be employed a handle bail 4:2 pivoted to one of the actuators at 43 and having its cross-piece or bridge adapted to engage the other actuator. By swinging this bail, the same effect is obtained as by grasping the actuators. When the actuators are compressed, the buttons 44 1 and also close them. As with Fig. 9, it will be understood that the staff of Figs. 11 and 12 is connected to the hat 23 to support it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a hat supporting device, a guiding and securing frame therefor having forwardly and rearwardly extending guide loops and laterally extending guide loops intersecting therewith, in any of which said hat supporting device is adapted to travel, and releasable means for locking the hat supporting device in different positions on said loops.

2. I11 combination with a hat supporting device, a guiding and securing frame therefor having intersecting guides extending forwardly, rearwardly and laterally in which said hat supporting device is adapted to be positioned, and independent locking devices carried by the hat supporting device and adapted to respectively engage the guides of the frame arranged and adapted for simultaneous retraction.

3. In combination with a hat supporting device, a guiding and securing frame therefor having intersecting guides extending forwardly, rearwardly and laterally in which said hat supporting device is adapted to be positioned, independent locking devices carried by the hat supporting device and adapted to respectively engage the guides of the frame arranged and adapted for simultaneous retraction, and means for simultaneously actuating said locking devices.

4:. In combination with a hat supporting device movable forwardly, rearwardly and laterally, a securing or looking frame having forward, rearward and lateral guides for the hat supporting device, spring-actuated pawls carried by the hat supporting device and adapted, respectively, to engage the guide members of the locking frame, a hand operated device, and operative connections between said hand operated device and said pawls, whereby the latter may be simultaneously retracted.

5. In combination with a hat supporting device, a guiding and securing frame therefor having forwardly and rearwardly extending guides, pawls carried by the hat supporting device, arranged in sets adapted to engage, respectively, the forwardly and rearwardly, and the laterally extending parts of the frame, and pawl actuators having means for engaging the respective sets of pawls to substantially simultaneously operate them.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT WV. HALL.

Witnesses:

S.'V. LooKWooD, M. L. NEWooMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

